Ebbesvik dominates Valencia support race.

Team West-Tec chargers Thor-Christian Ebbesvik and Jonathan Legris were talk of the town as the Spanish F3 series returned to Valencia.

Two of Team West-Tec's Spanish F3 Championship chargers made sure those present at the inaugural European Grand Prix in Valencia sat up and took notice after producing noteworthy performances on the supporting bill.

Thor-Christian Ebbesvik produced a devastating performance on the streets around the city's Americas Cup port as he dominated the weekend's single F3 race, while Britain's Jonathan Legris again showed his latent talent at the wheel of an eight-year old car before being taken out of a potential podium finish.

Ebbesvik was on top form from the start, running quickly on used tyres in free practice when everybody quicker was using fresher rubber, and then translating his pace to new tyres in qualifying, setting pole position. Although he blotted his copybook somewhat by crashing while on course for an even faster lap, the Norwegian's earlier time was more than good enough for him to finish the session as fastest ever F3 driver around the track.

Determined to preserve his advantage, he made an excellent start in Sunday's race, drove carefully when the track was slightly damp, and never looking like losing the lead, despite some desperate driving behind him.

The safety car made an appearance at the end of the first lap, while debris from a collision was cleared up, but Ebbesvik made an equally good getaway at the restart to maintain his lead. Chased by the impressive Nelson Panciatici, the Norwegian maintained a gap of over a second while always looking in control of the race and taking no unnecessary risks.

Panciatici closed in towards the end, but Ebbesvik had already begun to ease down to make sure he didn't throw victory - his first outright in Spanish F3 - away after 14 laps of total concentration.

"Fantastic!" he enthused, "I must offer great thanks to my crew - Paul, Brian and Steve did a great job to rebuild the car overnight and give me just as good a car on Sunday as I had on Saturday. What a great place and time to win!"

Christian was stunning," team principal John Miller confirmed, "I am really delighted he took this win for us. With his attitude, skill and determination, he certainly deserved his success and I am sure he is going to go far in this sport."

Ebbesvik was not alone in enjoying the series' second visit to the Valencia circuit, with all of the West-Tec drivers proving very fast over the weekend, ensuring that the Teams' Trophy headed home to the UK.

Legris again astounded onlookers - especially those in the F1 and GP2 paddocks getting a first look at him - with his performance in the eight-year old Dallara F300, taking second place in free practice and then qualifying fourth fastest - despite having to abandon his best lap to Ebbesvik's crash.

Making a good start from the damp side of the grid, the Briton tried to move up to second at turn two, but was pushed out wide and back down to fourth position. That left him vulnerable to some of the antics in the pack and, after the safety car had returned to the pits on lap three, was pushed into the wall following contact with the car of Roberto Merhi. The contact was heavy, causing great damage to the car, and potentially robbed Legris of another top three finish, as was clearly quicker than his young Spanish assailant, who went on to finish third.

"I suppose these things happen, although it was a shame to be shoved into the concrete wall at top speed...," Legris commented, "Obviously the result was disappointing, but we again showed great pace which I know was noticed."

"Jonathan was unbelievable yet again," engineer Roger Parkes insisted, "An outright podium would have been stunning, but it just wasn't to be. People who matter did notice his driving though - and they know he is the real deal."

Francisco Villar had his best showing in F3 career, qualifying in a very impressive tenth overall, and heading for a comfortable top ten finish - and a superb second position in the Copa de Espana class - before being delayed by an accident between two Tec-Auto cars which forced him up an escape road. Once he recovered, he moved up to finish twelfth overall, which became eleventh when Will Bratt was disqualified.

Ma Qing Hua also impressed with a top ten lap in free practice, but his qualifying effort was ruined by a broken gearbox which meant he had to line up towards the rear of the field. Despite the street circuit not offering the best overtaking possibilities, the Chinese driver made an excellent start and picked off rivals on most laps to finish in 13th overall and fifth in the Copa de Espana class, scoring his first points.